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AINSWORTH'S STRANGE SITUATION - Coggle Diagram
AINSWORTH'S STRANGE SITUATION
Aim: to measure the security of attachment a child shows towards their caregiver
method
middle class American infants (aged 9-18 months), their primary caregivers and a ‘stranger’
observed the child’s behaviour through a 2-way mirror
a controlled observation
the child and the caregiver were observed interacting in 7 different scenarios (episodes)
four main behaviours
stranger anxiety - how the child ‘responds’ in the presence of a stranger
Separation anxiety - how the child ‘responds’ when the mother leaves the room
Exploration and safe base behaviour – how the child ‘explores’ the environment and whether they use the mother as a ‘safe base’
Reunion behaviour - how the child ‘responds’ when reunited with their mother
STRANGE SITUATION
The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves
The caregiver leaves the baby alone
3.The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together.
The stranger returns
A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby.
The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby
The baby is encouraged to play and explore
which behaviour is measured in each episodes
test separation and stranger anxiety
test reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base
test stranger anxiety
Test separation anxiety
test exploration and secure base
Tests stranger anxiety
Test reunion behaviour
findings
Type B (secure) - 66%
type A (insecure - avoidant) - 22%
Type C (insecure-resistant) 12%
findings - four main behaviours
Secure
Moderate distress
Moderate
Explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver
Accept comfort from the caregiver at the reunion stage.
Insecure avoidant
Little or no reaction when the caregiver leaves
Little stranger anxiety
Do not seek proximity or show secure-base behaviour
Make little contact when the caregiver
insecure resistant
High levels
High levels
Seek greater proximity than others so explore less
Resist comfort when reunited with caregiver
conclusion
sensitive mothers generally had infants who were securely attached
• less sensitive (less responsive mothers) i.e. those who ignored their infant or were impatient with them had babies who were more likely to be insecurely attached
attachment differences depended upon the sensitiveness of the mother (i.e. how well the mother could read her infant’s feelings and moods).